Seven new mission presidents have been called by the First Presidency. The mission presidents and their wives will begin their service about July 1. Here are their names, assignments and biographical information:Rowena and Wayne Leroy Gardner
Wayne Leroy Gardner, 52, Chile Santiago East mission; Harris 2nd Ward, Mesa Arizona Central Stake; member of ward Young Men presidency; former stake mission president, temple ordinance worker, bishop, high councilor, Scoutmaster, branch president, Primary and Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the North Argentine Mission; attorney and member of Arizona legislature; received juris doctorate from South Texas College of Law; born in Mesa, Ariz., to Lucius Levier and Edith Smith Gardner; married Rowena Frances Orr; four children. She is a Relief Society newsletter editor; former Primary music leader, ward music chairman, choir director, member of Primary presidency, ward organist, Relief Society board member and branch Relief Society president; administrative assistant with Kinetics; attended Arizona State University, University of Houston and BYU; born in Lethbridge, Alberta, to Wallace Lloyd and Myrtle Marjorie Seely Orr.
Marsha and John Richard Hill
John Richard Hill, 56, Madagascar Antananarivo Mission; Oakton Ward, Oakton Virginia Stake; mission president's counselor in Romania Bucharest Mission; former branch president, bishop's counselor, Young Single Adult adviser, Young Men adviser, high priests group leader, and missionary in the French East Mission; economist with International Monetary Fund; received doctorate in economics from University of Illinois; born in Murray, Utah, to Mark Eugene and Leonora Andrus Hill; married Marsha Eugene Howard; four children. She is a counselor in district Relief Society presidency in Romania Bucharest Mission; former teacher development instructor, Young Single Adult adviser, district Young Women president and seminary coordinator and ward president in Relief Society, Young Women and Primary; school board member and elementary school teacher; received bachelor's degree in early childhood education from McNeese State University and did graduate work at George Mason and Michigan State universities; born in New Orleans, La., to Charles Bruce and Frances Anita Day Howard.
Jamie and Bruce Winn Johnson
Bruce Winn Johnson, 52, Idaho Pocatello Mission; Atascocita Ward, Kingswood Texas Stake; stake president's counselor; former high councilor, bishop and counselor, stake mission president, elders quorum president, and missionary in California South Mission; president of B.W. Johnson Inc.; received bachelor's degree in Zoology from BYU; born in Preston, Idaho, to Leonard Alder and Radia Winn Johnson; married Jamie Loretta Lyon; six children. She is a seminary teacher, former Ward Relief Society president, stake missionary, temple ordinance worker, Relief Society teacher, Cub Scout leader, and member of ward Young Women presidency; received bachelor's degree in elementary education and music from BYU; born in Ponca City, Okla., to George Edwin and Lillian Marie Saylor Lyon.
Steven Kent and Christine Knudson
Steven Kent Knudson, 44, California Santa Rosa Mission; Mt. Olympus 4th Ward, Mount Olympus North Stake; high priests group leader; former bishop, high councilor, Young Men president, bishop's counselor, Cub Master, Webelos leader, Primary teacher and missionary in the Pennsylvania Harrisburg Mission; financial consultant; received bachelor's degree in business finance from University of Utah; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kent and ReNae Pathakis Knudson; married Christine Young; four children. She is a ward Primary president, former Primary teacher and pianist, Cub Scout den leader, Relief Society teacher, counselor in ward Primary presidency, and Primary music leader; received bachelor's degree in home economics from University of Utah; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Thomas and Dwan Jacobsen Young.
Ruben Sabatino and Maria Tidei
Ruben Sabatino Tidei; 40, Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission; Cipolletti 1st Ward, Neuquen Argentina Stake; stake president; former stake president's counselor, bishop and elders quorum president; Church Educational System coordinator; born in Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Luis and Maria Rosa Gentile Tidei; married Maria Matilde Calvo; three children. She is a former ward and stake Young Women president, ward Relief Society president's counselor; born in Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Pablo A. and Matilde D'Amico Calvo.
Alton LaVar and Donna Wade
Alton LaVar Wade; 65, Washington D.C. South Mission; Provo 1st Ward, Provo Utah Oak Hills Stake; Primary teacher; former high priests group leader, high councilor, temple sealer, stake president, bishop's counselor, branch president, and missionary in Central States Mission; student life vice president at BYU; received doctorate in higher education administration from BYU; born in Leamington, Utah, to Vivian Rowley and Emily Maria Ashby Wade; married Donna Mae Daniels; eight children. She is a member of ward Primary presidency; former nursery leader, Relief Society teacher, stake Relief Society president, and stake Young Women president; received bachelor's degree in history and English from BYU; born in Long Beach, Calif., to Lorin B. and Mary Hortnagl Daniels.
Garth Larry and Melba Welch
Garth Larry Welch, 63, North Carolina Raleigh Mission; Pleasant View 5th Ward, Pleasant View Utah Stake; missionary with wife in Munich, Germany; former ward mission leader, Young Men president, high councilor, stake Sunday School president, bishop, and member of Tabernacle Choir; retired professor of chemistry at Weber State University; received doctorate in chemistry at BYU; born in Brigham City, Utah, to Samuel and Minnie Jane Hughes Welch; married Melba Lael Coombs; six children. She is a missionary with husband in Munich, Germany; former missionary tour guide at Beehive House in Salt Lake City, ward Relief Society president, teacher in Relief Society, Young Women, Primary and Sunday School, and missionary in Eastern States Mission; received certification as secretary at Stevens Henegar Business College; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kenneth E. and Lucy LaVerne Hales Coombs.